Pagan Theology

Paganism as a World Religion

Michael York

Publication Year: 2003

In Pagan Theology, Michael York situates Paganism—one of the fastest-growing spiritual orientations in the West—as a world religion. He provides an introduction to, and expansion of, the concept of Paganism and provides an overview of Paganism's theological perspective and practice. He demonstrates it to be a viable and distinguishable spiritual perspective found around the world today in such forms as Chinese folk religion, Shinto, tribal religions, and neo-Paganism in the West.

While adherents to many of these traditions do not use the word “pagan” to describe their beliefs or practices, York contends that there is an identifiable position possessing characteristics and understandings in common for which the label “pagan” is appropriate. After outlining these characteristics, he examines many of the world's major religions to explore religious behaviors in other religions which are not themselves pagan, but which have pagan elements. In the course of examining such behavior, York provides rich and lively descriptions of religions in action, including Buddhism and Hinduism.

Pagan Theology claims Paganism’s place as a world religion, situating it as a religion, a behavior, and a theology.

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Witches and neopagans are increasingly becoming fixtures on
American campuses, especially the contemporary liberal university alleged
to foster “destructive experimentation with personal identity.” The associate
provost of Boston University, Peter Wood, for example, does not find
neopagans particularly dangerous but simply confused, deluded, frivolous,
and devoid of intellectual seriousness. “Little inanities that once would ...

Pagan Theology Introduction

I believe in the supernatural, but I cannot demonstrate its existence.
It is, by definition, beyond the empirical dimension of factual
truths. Thomas Aquinas coined the term to refer to what is thought to be
privileged above the agency and laws of nature, but I prefer the term
preternatural as encompassing whatever is other than the ordinary, explicable,
and ...

1. Paganism as Religion

The difficulty in comprehending paganism as a world religion
was made clear on the Nature Religions electronic discussion list after its
participants failed to achieve official recognition in the American Academy
of Religion. Part of the ensuing debate involved whether any future
bid ought to be made again in the name of nature religion(s) or that of ...

2. Paganism as Behavior

The Hawaiian heiau, or indigenous pre-Christian temple, is
usually a dry-stone rectangular structure. Its enclosing wall is low, and
there is no roof. In essence, the surrounding wall is one of demarcation
only. These are venerable enclosures, however, dating to precolonial times.
Nevertheless, even today visitors find inside the heiau’s walls stones piled
on top of one another, usually three high but perhaps as many as six, with ...

3. Paganism as Theology

In the development of a more complete and accurate understanding
of what constitutes paganism, along with understanding paganism
as religion and understanding paganism as cultic behavior, we must also
understand paganism as a theological ideal type. But because of its peculiar
nature when compared with other world religions, what is most appropriate
to paganism is poly- and ad hoc ...

Notes

References

Index

About the Author

Michael York is principal lecturer for the Sophia Centre for the
Study of Cultural Astronomy and Astrology at Bath Spa University College.
He is director of the Bath Archive for Contemporary Religious Affairs,
as well as codirector of the Academy for Cultural and Educational
Studies ...

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